Former Ray Iwamura okay after Japan earthquake

The Rays have received word that former teammate Akinori Iwamura survived the Japan earthquake.

Iwamura returned to Japan this season to play for the Rakuten Golden Eagles, who are based in Sendai, a northern coastal city near the epicenter of the earthquake.

Rays VP Rick Vaughn said his wife, Sue, heard from one of Iwamura's agents that the team was out of town at the time and that Iwamura, who played for the Rays from 2007-09 and was the second baseman for the 2008 AL championship team, was okay.

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